<b>Chapter </b><b>226 </b>
She had also firmly asked me not to destroy her childhood home.
I had nothing to do with this fire, of course. The newspaper article said it was a chimney flue malfunction that got out of hand.
But I knew how important that house was to E, as well as her mother’s only belongings, which were
likely nothing but ashes now. E probably already knew about the fire and was devastated.
Without hesitating, I stood and went straight to her room. Despite everything, this was a devastating blow. I wanted tofort her and assure her not only that I was unrted to this incident and would even help her look into it if she wished, but also that I was here for her. <b>It </b>was the least I could do.
However, when I arrived at her room, it was empty.
The guard’s mouth went ck when I opened the door to reveal that E was gone. “I–I don’t know how that happened, Sir!” he eximed. “The maid, Lilith I think her name was, said there was an incident in
the west wing-”
“So basically you’re telling me that you let a political prisoner escape.” My fury returned tenfold as I whirled on the guard, who began wagging his mouth and quite literally dropped to his knees before me.
But it wasn’t just him I was angry at. It was E.
All pretense I’d had before of forgiving her immediately vanished. Innocent, my ass–why sneak out like that unless she was up to something? If she just wanted to visit her family home, she knew she could have asked and <b>I </b>would have escorted her there.
With a low warning growl at the guard, I brushed past and immediately rushed out to my car. I was halfway down the driveway when the gates ahead swung open, and a familiar vehicle whipped into the driveway,ing to a screeching halt beside me.
The window rolled down to reveal Sophia’s parents.
“Alex,<i>” </i>John breathed, “thank the Goddess you’re here. Have you heard?”
“About the fire? Yes, but I don’t have time for-<b>” </b>
<b>“</b>No,” Helen cut me off. “We’re talking about E!”
I frowned. “What about her?<b>” </b>
John and Helen exchanged panicked looks before Helen replied, “She went into prematurebor. Sophia found her and brought her back to our house. You muste quickly!”
Holy fucking shit.
I <b>immediately </b>leapt into the backseat <b>of </b>John and Helen’s car and let them drive me <b>to </b><b>their </b><b>home</b>. <b>The </b><b>entire </b><b>way </b>there<b>, </b>my mind was a blur of conflicting thoughts: anger, fear, hatred<b>, </b><b>love</b>, worry, <b>hope</b>.
E was giving birth <b>to </b>our baby. Prematurely<b>. </b>Not in a hospital.
The implications weren’t lost on me. Both E’s and the baby’s lives could be in danger.
As soon as John pulled up to the house, I jumped out of the car and bolted inside. A trembling <b>butler </b>pointed <b>at </b>the second floor with a gloved hand, and I took the steps two at a time, rushing toward <b>the </b>room where amotion was going on at the end of the hall.
I heard screaming. Crying. Voices shouting.
“E!” <b>I </b>called out. “E, I’ming!”
By the time I reached the door<b>, </b>all was quiet within. I hesitated, heart pounding. E–the baby<b>–</b>were they alright?
And then I heard it. The faint sound of a newborn’s cries. I let loose a deep breath of relief and swung the door open, immediately forgetting all about the betrayal I’d felt before.
“E-”
I froze. Lilith was hunched over E’s still form, her shoulders shaking with sobs. E wasn’t moving. Wasn’t speaking. Wasn’t reaching for our newborn child. And, Goddess, there was so much blood.
Slowly, Sophia turned toward me, holding a wriggling infant against her chest. A little boy.
<b>“</b>Your son arrived a little early,<i>” </i>Sophia whispered, cing the child in my arms. “But E didn’t make it.”